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   Grand Marshal Wayne Norman with Governor Jodi Rell led the 2007 parade
The W I L I B O O M B O X P A R A D E
The 2010 parade begins at 12:00 noon on July 4
FOR A SUMMARY AND PHOTOS OF THE 2008 PARADE, CLICK HERE.
TO READ THE WILLIMANTIC CHRONICLE'S ACCOUNT OF THE 2008 WILI BOOM BOX PARADE, CLICK HERE.
TO READ THE NORWICH BULLETIN'S ACCOUNT OF THE 2008 WILI BOOM BOX PARADE, AND SEE THEIR PHOTO ALBUM, CLICK HERE.
SEE A SUMMARY OF THE 2007 PARADE AND PHOTOS BY CLICKING HERE .
To view photos from prior parades, click here To view photos of Grand Marshal Wayne Norman's unusual parade outfits, click here For a listing of the music and artists used for the soundtrack of the WILI Boom Box Parade, click here In 1986, no marching band could be found for Windham's Memorial Day Parade. Five weeks later, the "Boom Box Parade" concept was born, as WILI plays the marching band music on the air, while thousands march and watch, loudly playing their radios (boom boxes). It's now the largest parade of its kind in the world.
 Decked out in red, white, and blue, WILI's Wayne Norman leads off the 2003 WILI "Boom Box Parade" asking a question that was on many peoples' minds.
The 2007 WILI "Boom Box Parade" brought even more creative entries to Main Street and was one of the best attended parades yet. It lasted 91 minutes, and as usual, featured marchers and spectators from around Connecticut, the USA, and the world. Connecticut Governor Jodi Rell marched at the front of the parade.
 Once a year WILI Sales Manager Donna Evan is a clown
The 2003 and 2004 Boom Box Parades were the longest of the 22 Boom Box Parades (104 minutes). As with the inaugural parade in 1986, the 2000 parade also attracted nationwide attention. The Washington Post and Los Angeles Times ran major features on the parade, with color photos. The Willimantic Chronicle, Hartford Courant and Norwich Bulletin ran major features on the parade, complete with color photos. In addition, Connecticut TV stations WFSB and WVIT covered the Boom Box Parade and had features on the 5pm and 11pm news.  Members of the Traveling Fish Head Club of Northeast Connecticut give Willimantic a new name.
Anyone can march in "Connecticut's Unique People's Parade." The only requirement is to wear some red, white, and blue, and bring a radio tuned to WILI (1400-AM). American flags are optional, but encouraged. There is no "official" theme for the parade.
 An ex-Governor came to the 2004 WILI Boom Box Parade, complete with hot tub and suitcase for his trip to Pennsylvania.
The 2009 WILI "Boom Box Parade" begins at 11 AM sharp. Formation for the Boom Box Parade starts at Jillson Square on Main Street between 9 and 10:30am on July 4th. No pre-registration is necessary. A one-mile road race preceded the 2004-2008 parades. For more information, click here. UConn English Professor and Hartford Courant columnist Gina Barreca calls the WILI Boom Box Parade "unquestionably the event that makes the Fourth of July seem as important as it should be."  People spilled off the sidewalks to watch the 1997 WILI Boom Box Parade
The Boom Box Parade originated when no band could be found for Windham's Memorial Day Parade. Two days before the holiday, parade lover Kathy Clark approached WILI with the novel concept of the radio station playing marching band tunes while people blasted the music on radios ("boom boxes"). Figuring the lead time for promotion was too short, WILI vetoed the Memorial Day parade idea. Not to be denied, Kathy came back two weeks later, suggesting the concept for July 4. A tradition was born. "We had no idea what to expect," said parade Grand Marshal Wayne Norman. "I went by the formation area 90 minutes before the parade, and no one was there. I thought, 'Wasn't THIS a great idea!'" But the first parade lasted 44 minutes and was hailed as a great success. Recent parades have been more than twice as long. For a story on Kathy Clark's legacy, click here. Past parade marchers have included a "baby boomers unit"--parents pushing children in strollers; a "precision drill team"--marchers holding power drills; skateboard units, along with various decorated floats and marching youth and civic groups. One of the most popular annual entries is the "Traveling Fish Head Club of Northeast Connecticut", which in 2003 had a "herring town" entry and in 2001 had a tribute to Windham's frog bridge. Recently, nearly 100 members of the Haggerty family have gone all out with their "Haggerosa" theme--a takeoff on Bonanza's "Ponderosa" in 1998 and multi-unit circus theme in 1999, and a "We are not alone" aliens theme in 2000. In 2001 their "Haggerosa Patrol" stretched over three blocks with its keystone cops routine.
In 2003 they had a cruisin' theme, called "Haggerosa Rock 'n Roll" The family's display included a Mel's Diner float complete with a jukebox as well as a golf car converted into a mini car.  The Haggerosa clan again had multiple entries which spanned over a block. The 2003 theme was 50's and 60's Rock and Roll.
The parades are always led by Grand Marshal Wayne Norman--WILI's morning man since 1970. He has developed a tradition of wacky outfits. He started the 2008 parade in an electric wheelchair. He led the 2007 parade dressed like a 1950's greaser, as a tribute to WILI's 50th anniversary in 2007. In 2006, he was dressed as "The King of Willimantic" while sitting atop a huge boom box. In 2005 he kayaked down Main Street, while wearing a Red Sox jersey in honor of the 2004 World Series champs. In 2004 he was wearing a white jump suit with a red, white, and blue sequined vest while riding an "adult tricycle" down Main Street. He led the 2003 parade decked out in red, white, and blue, while driving a decorated go-cart, and had a two-sided red sign which asked "Where's The Courant today?" and "Where's Dan Rather today," in response to recent Courant and 60 Minutes II portrayals of Willimantic (see photo top of this page).
Two months after he backpacked the Grand Canyon, Wayne led the 2002 Boom Box Parade in his hiking gear-- complete with backpack. His Canyon Hiking pals followed him with a stretcher-- just in case! He carryed cold water bottle in his pack and gave them to spectators on the 99 degree day. He kicked off the 2001 parade as Uncle Sam riding a scooter. He wore a hard hat which played various sound effects and had two nylon propellers which lit up red and rotated. On his back was a drawing of Windham's new "Thread City Crossing" bridge, complete with actual photos of the bridge's frogs. And he carried a Sony Boom Box hanging from a strap around his neck. In 2000, he led the "Cupid Corps"-nine individuals who had been honored for community service by being named Romantic Willimantic's "Cupid." Wayne was the first recipient in 1982. He headed the 2000 parade wearing big, white, safety-pinned diapers, carried a bow and arrow, and had a red sash saying "Cupid 1982." He wore his traditional drum major hat from Windham High, a "Stars and Stripes" shirt, had boom boxes for shoes, and carried a Boom Box. In 1999 he honored the National Champion UConn Men's Basketball team by wearing an actual game jersey of UConn center Jake Voskuhl, had the colorful Boom Box shoes, the drum major hat, carried a boom box, threw candy to the spectators, shot baskets at a hoop carried on the back back of WILI's afternoon man Shawn Higgins--all while pulling a dogsled which carried the UConn Husky mascot.
In 1998, he towed a bus-sized boom box while on rollerblades. In 1997, he was joined upfront by WILI News Director Mike Morrissette on motorcycles. In 1996, he was dressed as a giant snowball, in tribute to the record-setting winter of '95/'96. In previous years he wore a white tuxedo (1994), and the Frog of Windham (1993). In 1992 he attempted to ride a horse, and in 1991 rode ten feet above Main Street in a cherry-picker supplied by the Willimantic Fire Department.  Former WILI Account Executive Gail Baker always brightened Boom Box Parades
For more information, on the WILI "Boom Box Parade," contact Wayne Norman at (860) 456-1111, or E-mail wayne @ wili.com
 The Willimantic Brewing Company/Main Street Cafe Float was complete with a piano-playing frog. (Donna Andrychowski Photo)
FOR TIM PAGE'S FEATURE STORY IN THE WASHINGTON POST ON THE 2000 WILI BOOM BOX PARADE, WHICH ALSO RAN IN THE LOS ANGELES TIMES, CLICK HERE
FOR PHOTOS AND A SUMMARY OF THE 2006 PARADE, CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 2006 PARADE, CLICK HERE The Forth Worth Star-Telegram featured the Boom Box Parade on June 19, 2005. To read the story, click here. To view photos of the 2006 WILI Boom Box Parade, click here To view photos of the 2005 WILI Boom Box Parade, click here To view photos of the 2004 WILI "Boom Box Parade" click here To view photos from prior parades, click here For photos of the 2001 WILI Boom Box Parade, click here and here. The first WILI "Boom Box Parade" in 1986 got worldwide coverage. To see a writeup from Guatemala, click here. The New York Times ran a preview of the parade and a post-parade story. To read the preview, click here
The Wall Street Journal had stories about the 1986 and 1987 Boom Box Parades. To read the 1987 story, click here
For a New London Day op-ed page summary of the 2003 WILI Boom Box Parade, click here. For a summary of the 2002 WILI "Boom Box Parade," written by Parade Grand Marshal Wayne Norman, click here. Willimantic Chronicle Parade reports: 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1995, 1992 Norwich Bulletin Parade reports: 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1995, 1993 Hartford Courant Parade reports: 2001, 1997, 1994, 1993 Kathy Clark created the Boom Box Parade concept. To read about her legacy, click here. To read an Associated Press story on the 2002 WILI "Boom Box Parade," click here. "Roadside America" offered this summary of background of the WILI "Boom Box Parade." Festivals.com listing for the WILI "Boom Box Parade" A blogger from Europe was impressed with the WILI "Boom Box Parade."  The Traveling Fishhead Club of Northeast Connecticut emerged from the Willimantic River for the first time in 1987
 The Windham Frogettes made an appearance
 Boom Box Parade banners like this one and the one atop this page adorn Main Street before the parade
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